We knew our social media followers would step up when we asked them to reveal the most important things Scouts forget to pack for a campout. But we were blown away by all the helpful lessons and hilarious stories. Here are some responses that were too awesome not to share:
Sleep gear
“Sleeping bag!” wrote Janet, echoing dozens of similar replies.
Chelsea shared a particularly rough scenario: a Scout who forgot to bring their sleeping bag to summer camp — 12 hours away from home. Jill noted that things like chairs or pillows can be improvised, but a sleeping bag is much harder to replace. So don’t let your Scout forget it!
Flashlights and batteries
Sure, flashlights and headlamps are occasionally forgotten — even by leaders. “I always, without fail, forget a flashlight,” Martha says.
But it sounds like Scouts are more likely to forget to bring (or check) batteries Don’t let this small but extremely useful essential fall off a camp pack. (Trust us, no one wants to go to the bathroom in pitch-darkness.)
Mess kits and utensils
Plenty of Scouts show up ready to eat — but without their chow-down tools. It’s a hangry mistake, but usually one they don’t make again.
Michele recalled a Scout on a Philmont prep hike who didn’t bring his mess kit and had to borrow his dad’s — but not until his dad finished eating. “Never forgot his utensils again,” Michele said.
Water bottles
The humble but all-important water bottle is another surprisingly forgotten item.
One commenter even described a forgetful Scout who got creative by drinking from an empty chip bag. We’re pretty sure that Scout will never forget a water bottle again!
Clothing basics
Underwear and socks came up a lot.
Steve recalled forgetting underwear at summer camp and spending his birthday afternoon doing laundry so he’d have something clean to wear. That’s one way to celebrate!
And the ultimate packing fail
In one unforgettable story, Katrina said her son forgot something big: his entire bag. He went the whole weekend without spare clothes.
This lesson stuck: Always double-check before the car leaves the driveway.
Before and after you pack, check out these essentials lists to spare your family any major packing mishaps:
